Incline Attorney’s $1.3M Crypto Scam

⏱ 2 min read

Pittsburgh lawyer Christopher Furman, 53, isn’t defending clients these days – he’s facing federal charges for allegedly pilfering $1,379,300 from the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline. The feds say between October 2024 and September 2025, Furman, as president of the board, hijacked funds meant to keep the iconic funicular chugging.

Furman, who had no authorization to handle the Society’s money, allegedly initiated over 25 electronic transfers, funnelling the cash directly into his personal bank account. The indictment details a brazen scheme where he treated the historic Incline’s coffers like his personal ATM. This wasn’t some small-time skimming operation; we’re talking over a million dollars.

But Furman didn’t just stash the cash. The feds say he immediately dumped the stolen funds into a cryptocurrency exchange, playing the digital markets in a desperate attempt to conceal the theft and fatten his wallet. The Duquesne Incline, a Pittsburgh landmark since 1964, was left holding the bag, its operations jeopardized by Furman’s alleged greed.

If convicted of wire fraud and money laundering, Furman faces a hefty sentence: up to 20 years behind bars for each fraud count, and another 10 years for each money laundering charge. Expect fines, too. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan McKenna is prosecuting.